Propeller mounting



Jan. 15, 1946.

T. E. GRACE PROPELLER MOUNTING Filed Jan. 8,11942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvENToR THEoDoRE E. GRACE ATT'OR'NEY Jan- 15, 1945 T. E. GRACE l 2,393,158

4 l PROPELLER MOUNTING Filed Jan. s, 1942 V 2 sheets-sheetz /V y d I mgl/gg 3Q' 5-5 53 56 39 3e ik' Y 38,

' INVENTOR. l l THEODORE E. GRACE BY 4 F IG. v Q

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1946 Y 'rtorngncn MOUNTING l Theodore E. Grace, DetroitMicl. A y Application january s, 1942, serialfNo. 426,015y

z claims. r(el. 17o-'13am My invention relates to a new and Yuseful improvement in a propeller mounting adaptedfor use particularly on aeroplanes which utilize a propeller rotating at high speed.

It is an object of the present invention to pro-A vide a propeller mounting so arranged and con- -structed that the vibration resulting therefrom will be reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a propeller mounting so arranged and f constructed thatl the .unbalanced forces incident to the rotation of the propeller will be reduced to a minimum with a consequent reduction of vibra- A tion resulting therefrom.

Another object .of the invention is the provision of a propeller mounting so. arranged and constructed that a multiple number of propellers may lbe rotated inopposite directions from a common Y drive shaft.

A .Another object of thevinvention is the provision f of a propeller mounting so arranged and constructed that the propeller blades may berocked on their axis for varying the pitch thereof and consequently, adjusting ythe propelling forces. lAnother vobject of the invention is theprovision of a propeller mounting so arranged and constructed that the propellers may v be swung y through an arc of substantially 90 degrees for driving the aeroplane in horizontal direction or driving it in a vertcaldirection so that the propellers may be used merely for propulsion or also may be used for lifting. o

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of a propeller mounting which will aord a means 'for driving the one propeller in one direction and another in anotherdirection, while employing a minimum number of parts and maintaining the structure light, compact, durable and highly eilicient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various changes and modiiications may be made in the detail and structure and it is intended that such variations and departures shall be embraced within the scope of the claims attached hereto.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

` Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken on line 5-5 0f Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional yview taken on line yI-#S'of Fig. 1.

In the drawings I have illustrated a driving shaft 9 which is formed tubular and .on which is iixedly mounted a bevel gear IIJ.V .The shaft 9 is journalled in suitable bearings II contained in the hub I2 lwhich forms a part of the housing I3, this housing being suitably mountedV in Vstationary position.

Extended through the housing I3 is a shaft I4 which may be rocked on its axis andwhich also serves as a pivot for a supporting hub I5 which the shaft I4 is projected through. As'shown in Figf the housing I3 is provided withth'e open space I B through which the hub I5 kmay be swung.

Suitable mechanism -i'or swinging the hub I5 to its various positions may be utilized but this mechanism, offitself, forms no part of `thepresent invention andisnot shown.. Y

Rotatably mounted on the shaft I4- is va bevel gear. I1 meshing with the gear I0 andk thus rotated by the driving shaft or tube 9.- This gear I1 meshes with the bevel gear I8 whichis xedly mounted on the lower end of a tube I9 which embraces the telescoping tube 120, this tube being cut away as at 2| for the purposes of lightening the same.r The tube 20 isconnectedby the Lelinks 22 and 23 to the collar 24 whichis lxedly mounted on theshaft I4, the construction being such that as the shaft I4 is rocked the tube 2l will be moved vertically upwardly ordownwardly-in Fig.

l, the purpose of which will appear as theldescription proceeds.

' lTheftube I9 islournalled inbearin'gs 25 and-'26 which are mounted on the hub I5. lThis tube' I9 extends into vthel blade hub 21 which is provided with a cap 28 serving as a closure for the open end of the tube I9. The construction is such that when the shaft 9 is rotated the tube I9 is Vrotated. in one direction through the gears I0, I1 and I8.

The tube I9 projects through a bushing 29 carried by the blade hub 30. This hub 30 is driven by the tube I9 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tube I9. Formed in the lower end of the hub 30 is a recess or cavity 3|.

The periphery of the tube I9 carries teeth 32 which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 33, the teeth of which pinions'mesh with teeth 34 formed on the inner face of the recess 3l. Pins 35 project through the pinions 33 and ride in a groove 36 formed in the hub I5. Thus the pinion gear serves as an idler gear for driving the hub 30.

Projecting outwardly from the hub 21 are socket-bearing arms 3l in which the hub 38 of a propeller blade may engage, this hub being secured in position by the securing cap 39 which serves to engage the peripheral flange 40 formed on the hub 38. The hub 30 is also provided with the socket-bearing arms 31,' for reception of the propeller hub 38' held in position by the cap 39 which engages the peripheral flange 40. In this way the propeller hubs are mounted in the socket-v bearing arms 31 and 31' so ,tothe rotatable thereiri.`V ,l

A means for rotating the propeller hubs 38 and 38 is provided so that the pitch of the propeller` blades may be varied as desired.

Mounted iixedly on the inner end lor-the Phub gear 43 iixedly mounted on the shaft f4-1 Fixedly mounted on the shaft 44 isapinixml adapted to mesh with the circular rack 1Nteeth 46 formed on the periphery of the upper end of the therein, as clearly appears in .Fig.g4, v.through :which the piniond may pmieot.. Gonsequently,

by reciprocating the tube 20 relatively to the-t11be d! zhe :pinions s45' would be .rotated to effect a iroehingnof athe propeller 4hubs `38:19h :their axes heirpinion 45 meshes with lay-pinion d8 which arto; zprovide. the tongues 5,3 :and '54.

Eine ztongnefsiszconnected by ftheiever 55 zt'oa Shaft 56 urrwhichs .fmnnntednbgvelggear L51: .meshing @with sa', bevelwlgear end of sone nfithe tpropnller hubs 538 :onthesendfgtheeother mrrzpeilerzlnibrf riisa bevel gear 59 meshing withithe beveifgear eiixedlsyronounted xm theshait :E11 whichzis 'raroeked leiter 2 :icomrentedfto the. arm 54. 'Ehe .constructionisesndifthatnszthe ambelZ-isaecipmnatediinrnne direction in etiie :tube L8 thepro- 15 stellar511mb,i 384 Willsbei Hooked their mesaitzthe ifsainetime :timough thefoperatinniof thegears 48,

rasckbarelttandbhertuheizwith its comiectedlleande-821mm propeiier hubs 38 be Y.roeleert ontrthei'r inV a .direction I`opposite to the directioniothe-:rooking,of the :hubs 38; f

f sharm maar courseybe soaked nyfany for ladjusting this teeth of the *propeilerblades '115 38 is a bevel gear 42 which mesheswithnlbevel Y and simultaneously adjusting the pitch of a pair of propellers which are rotating in opposite directions.

In this way I have provided a propeller mounting so arranged and constructed that a smooth operation of an aeroplane becomes possible, reducing the vibration and the consequent wear on the body, fuselage and wings of the aeroplane to a minimum because of dampening out the unl0 ba1anoedforces to the mechanism .whereby the i propeller's .are no tated in opposite f directions. I

have also provided a simple and easily operated i ;-mechanism whereby the pitch of the `blades may be varied with the consequent advantages insident'-"thereto Whaticlaim as new is: l

1. In a propeller mounting of the class described, :a rotatable shaft; a beveled gear rotatably, mo.unted on said shaft; a tubular driving 20 shaft; a gear xedly mounted on said driving Bharti-,sand fmeshing' with said beveled gear for :driving-@heraanleg :a1ube;.a:gear xediyfmounted onsaid tubevnnmeshingfwith saidibeizeled gear; a telescoping tubeeinftelesoopo relaizionzwithsad I25 rst-:nained tube; carried: by .'saidwtelescopring daube; :.and sa collar aflxedly mounted on said yfirst-married':tritatablefshnt 'and connectedfto said links for, upon rotatonofsaidiirstanamedzshaft,

@effecting a. longitudinal rmovement of.1.said:tele 130 scopmgftube. Y A Y n :propeller mechanism nf the class `de- Yiseriberma. aubiilanshaft; a propeller *.hub mounted nn fand rotatable in gunisofnwith said :tubular shaft; propeller blades one-said propel'lerihubno- 1:35 :tamed :in Lunisnn @therewith :rockable Lonftheir llongitudin-aizaxes: a fsecondenamedf-tuhularfshaft ;infteiescopc.arrangement zwithssaid :nrstenamed :tubular '.sshazfti; means Tfor `:rotating said :iirstnarned tubular shaft in one direction meanaop- Adorable upon the rotation of l*said Erst-'named ---Shaft i saddirectionftor 1ro'tating said Vsecondnamedi-s'hatinzthe -=oppos`ite direction; -arpropeller 1hab-onsidlsecondenamedlshait and'lrotatable unison therewith; ypropeilerblades .on =said sec- "50; one iiii'ectlon andlthe vblades in the 'other Ahub iin the-lather Adirectim for varying theposition` of said blades; and links connectingsaidflon'gitudi- Lnaily movable `rrr-ioems to --sa'id v'collar ifor Aeiiee'ting ongitcmal movement fofsaid flongitudinaliy '55 Fmovablemeans. f 

